Thumb Sucking and Cuddly Baby

Every week Mathieu exhibits slight changes to his behaviors. The latest are his thumb sucking and cuddliness. Mathieu became friends with the passifier at about 6 weeks and that was a great new tool for us (especially those of us with milkless nipples). He always had a hankering for sucking on his whole fist, although that would never satisfy him for long. So it was a big discovery for him to isolate just his thumb.

Mathieu also is now very fond of just leaning on our shoulders as we rock away in the glider. Finally! The glider works! Usually he doesn't fall asleep. He just wants to cuddle. It is an amazing feeling (and much easier than bouncing him around).

Here is a nice picture of Sue on one of her daily 2 hour walks around Tybee with Mathieu in the ErgoBaby. These accomplish two objectives. Sue gets out of the house and Mathieu gets a good nap.

Easter on Tybee

One of the great things about living on Tybee is its ideal vacation appeal. Add a baby and it becomes irresistible, especially to grandparents. Mom, Dad, and Uncle Ray came to visit us for Easter, and Mathieu flashed us all with his adorable, toothless, gummy grin. I've always enjoyed when my family comes to visit, but now that feeling has intensified because I want to share the joy of Mathieu.

Mommy Time

Dare I write this? Will I jinx myself? Mathieu has been consistently sleeping multiple straight hours at night and takes 3 or 4 significant naps during the day. I've been warned ... growth spurts, teething, and just being a baby will upset this nice ratio of sleep and awake time, but while I have it, I'm enjoying it! Life is so much easier when I sleep for 6 or so hours straight at night. Nursing has become much easier, too. After the initial 3-4 weeks of pain whenever Mathieu latched on, coupled with my bout of mastitus and plugged ducts, breastfeeding has become the joy that everyone talks about. Mathieu and I even gaze into each other's eyes, although he usually just stares vacantly at some unknown spot.

A Ride in the Rickshaw

My new friend Heidi, her husband Jeremy, and their new baby Jacob pedaled us around in their rickshaw. Heidi and I even nursed while we rolled along!